herd's-grass: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2technical/agricultural; archaic
Quick answer
What does “herd's-grass” mean?
A common name for the tall, coarse grass species Timothy (Phleum pratense), cultivated as hay for livestock.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A common name for the tall, coarse grass species Timothy (Phleum pratense), cultivated as hay for livestock.
Any of several grasses grown for pasture or hay, specifically Timothy, which is a staple forage crop in temperate regions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'Timothy grass' or 'cat's-tail grass' is more common. In American English, 'Timothy' is the predominant term, with 'herd's-grass' surviving in older agricultural texts and regional use.
Connotations
Both convey a technical, agricultural register. 'Herd's-grass' has an older, more rustic connotation.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in modern usage in both varieties, largely supplanted by 'Timothy'.
Grammar
How to Use “herd's-grass” in a Sentence
N (grow/cut/plant) herd's-grassN (be) a field of herd's-grassVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “herd's-grass” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The farmer decided to herd's-grass the lower meadow.
- They have been herd's-grassing that field for generations.
American English
- He plans to herd's-grass the acreage next spring.
- The land was historically herd's-grassed.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- The herd's-grass field was ready for cutting.
- They used a traditional herd's-grass mixture.
American English
- They inspected the herd's-grass crop.
- A herd's-grass hay bale is quite distinctive.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the agricultural commodities sector when discussing historical forage types or heritage seed varieties.
Academic
Found in historical agricultural texts, botany papers on forage grasses, and studies of 18th-19th century farming.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used in precise agricultural history, botany, and heritage seed conservation contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “herd's-grass”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “herd's-grass”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “herd's-grass”
- Misspelling as 'herds grass' (without apostrophe) or 'herd grass'.
- Using it in a modern farming context where 'Timothy' is expected.
- Pronouncing the possessive 's' as a plural 's' (/hɜːdz/ vs /hɜːdzɪz/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term. Modern farmers use 'Timothy' or 'Timothy grass'.
It is a possessive form: 'grass for the herd'. Similar to 'shepherd's pie' (pie for the shepherd).
No, it specifically denotes Timothy grass (Phleum pratense), though historically it may have been used loosely for other pasture grasses.
Primarily in historical documents, agricultural history books, or botanical texts discussing the etymology of plant names.
A common name for the tall, coarse grass species Timothy (Phleum pratense), cultivated as hay for livestock.
Herd's-grass is usually technical/agricultural; archaic in register.
Herd's-grass: in British English it is pronounced /hɜːdz ɡrɑːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /hɝːdz ɡræs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated with this specific term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HERD'S-grass is for HERD animals (cattle, horses).
Conceptual Metaphor
GRASS AS PROVISION / SUSTENANCE (a specific crop providing for a herd).
Practice
Quiz
What is the modern common name for 'herd's-grass'?